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Poland's president concedes defeat to conservative challenger

Exit polls showed President Bronislaw Komorowski lost to conservative challenger Andrzej Duda by six percentage points.

By Fred Lambert
Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski addresses the 67th session of the General Assembly at the United Nations on September 26, 2012 in New York City. On May 24, 2015, Komorowski conceded defeat to conservative challenger Andrzej Duda after exit polls showed the incumbent was short six percentage points in the country's elections. File photo by Monika Graff/UPI
Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski addresses the 67th session of the General Assembly at the United Nations on September 26, 2012 in New York City. On May 24, 2015, Komorowski conceded defeat to conservative challenger Andrzej Duda after exit polls showed the incumbent was short six percentage points in the country's elections. File photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo

WARSAW, Poland, May 24 (UPI) -- Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski conceded defeat to conservative challenger Andrzej Duda following exit poll results in the country's elections on Sunday.

Komorowski, who had been a popular incumbent, lost to Duda 53 percent to 47 percent in Sunday's run-off vote. Duda is a relatively unknown opposition politician from the right-wing Law and Justice party.

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The 62-year-old Komorowski, who has been in office five years with the pro-market and pro-European Civic Platform party, was expected to win the election.

As of Sunday, however, he had lost both voting rounds to Duda, 43, who garnered support from more conservative eastern portions of the country near the Ukrainian and Belorussian borders.

"I respect your choice," the BBC quoted Komorowski as saying at a gathering of supporters. "I wish my challenger a successful presidency."

Duda thanked Komorowski for his congratulations and "rivalry of this presidential campaign."

"Those who voted for me voted for change," the BBC quoted him as saying. "Together we can change Poland."

Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz, ally to Komorowski, faces parliamentary elections this fall.

Official exit poll results are expected Monday.

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